Hands Down, These Are the 10 Biggest Shoe Trends of 2018

The shoe trends of 2018 are really quite varied: On one runway you'll find delicate, dainty heels covered in pretty embellishments. On the other you'll find stompy cowboy boots. In one camp—where both Balenciaga and Christopher Kane see eye-to-eye—there are souped-up Crocs. But take a hop, skip, and a jump over to another atelier, and it's all about 1980s-inspired, spiked stiletto pumps. There are sensible options and wildly impractical ones; statement styles exist, but so do very wise go-with-everything investment purchases. Basically, if you're a shoe lover (er, duh), then this year is your year: You have every footwear trend, silhouette, color, and finish possible.

That in itself can be a touch overwhelming, so we've gathered the best runway shoe-spiration to bring you a concise edit of what will be most useful and impactful for your own wardrobe. See our top shoe trends for 2018, and shop the pieces you can already snap up now—at different price points.

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1. COWBOY BOOTS
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Cowboy boots are dominating 2018: They work nicely for essentially all seasons. Our first dibs go to Chloé's red snake-print versions seen on the spring runway, but we'd happily have any of the following shoppable versions too…

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2. FUTURISTIC TRAINERS
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Thick-soled and highly detailed, that's how we'll like our sneakers in 2018. Louis Vuitton's led the pack, but already we've seen that Balenciaga's Triple S styles keep selling out, and now affordable stores are on board too.

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3. NOT-SO-CLASSIC PUMPS
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On the opposite side of the spectrum from all of those comfy, bouncy sneaks you have the ultimate in seriously high '80s-style stiletto pumps. It's a shoe trend that many retailers are buying heavily into, and if Victoria Beckham is in on the movement, we could be persuaded… Bonus points if you wear them in an unexpected color.

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4. CRAYOLA BRIGHTS
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Many designers have incorporated extra-bright brights into their clothing, but there's also a lot to be said for simply adding a pair of hot-hued shoes (particularly in primary shades of yellow, red, and blue) into your existing wardrobe. Our dream start would be with these Rochas mules.

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5. CLEAR PLASTICS
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Chanel leads the charge when it comes to spring's see-through plastic trend (Karl Lagerfeld employed the fabric for every imaginable item, not just footwear), but there are other designer names backing the idea up: Balmain, Moschino, and Calvin Klein to name a few. Shop our favorites in the next few slides.

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6. CURVY HEELS
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A Céline-led trend is always a good trend. The curved heel harkens a Victoria-type flare that we're heavy into for 2018.

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7. FEATHERS
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It doesn't get fancier than feathers, and this year it's all about a statement plume to take your night-out heels to the next level. 

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8. SOCKS, SOCKS, AND MORE SOCKS
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Practical and chic, a shoe plus sock are a match made in sartorial heaven. Your toes will stay toasty and blisters will be kept at bay. 

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9. KITSCH EMBELLISHMENT
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More is more when it comes to the world of kitsch embellishment. Gems, jewels, and crystals make perfect adornments for these OTT shoes. 

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10. ALL-WHITE
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The industry's penchant for white shoes continues, and this season, there will be plenty of chic, Tipex-white sandals on offer. One particularly desirable pair were introduced by Michael Kors, but until you can grab those, see our other favorites that are available today.

Hannah Almassi
Editor in Chief

Hannah Almassi is the editor in chief of Who What Wear UK. Hannah has been part of the the Who What Wear brand since 2015, when she was headhunted to launch the UK sister site and social channels, implement a localised content strategy and build out the editorial team. She joined following a seven-year tenure at Grazia magazine, where she led front-of-book news, fashion features and shopping specials as fashion news and features editor. With experience in both print and digital across fashion and beauty, Hannah has over 16 years in the field as a journalist, editor, content strategist and brand consultant. Hannah has interviewed industry heavyweights such as designers including Marc Jacobs and Jonathan Anderson through to arbiters of taste including Katie Grand and Anna Dello Russo. A skilled moderator and lecturer specialising in the shift to digital media and e-commerce, Hannah’s opinion and work has been sought by the likes of CNBC, BBC, The Sunday Times Style, The Times, The Telegraph and MatchesFashion.com, among many others. Hannah is often called upon for her take on trends, becoming known as a person with their finger of the pulse of what’s happening in the fashion space for stylish Brits.

Hannah currently resides in Eastbourne with her photographer husband, incredibly busy son and highly Instagrammable cat.